What A Feeling rules Challenge Race

A Kentucky-bred colt stamped its class in the 2019 Philippine Racing Commission 3YO Imported/Local Challenge Race at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite last Sunday.

What A Feeling, whose parents Flashback (sire) and Rougeole (dam) are also Kentucky, USA horses, pulled off a one-length victory under the masterful guidance of jockey Mark A. Alvarez in the 1,600-meter race offering a total purse of P1.5 million and P900,000 to the champion.

“Pina-remate ko lang ang kabayo ko. Split second lang po ang pag-iisip natin, sabi ko susugalan ko na lang ito, dahil sa isip ko, ‘yun ang ika-papanalo namin,” said Alvarez.

The gamble paid off as What A Feeling fended off To It’s Si Bing’s charge in the final 300, before putting on the jets and sticking to pole position in the last straight for the victory achieved in 1:43, with quarter-times of 24.2/24.4/25.6/29.

Refuse To Lose (owner Antonio F. Coyco, jockey OP Cortez) burst out of the gates with the lead, but Mark of Excellence (Tecson, EP Nahilat) swiftly seized control.

To It’s Si Bing of owner Bingson Tecson and jockey MM Gonzales took second worth P337,500 while Will To Win of owner Wally B. Manalo and jockey CP Henson was third worth P187,500.

Bigger stakes races are on tap in the coming months – the second leg of the Juvenile Fillies and Colts Stakes Races on Nov. 3, the Ambassador Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr. Cup on Nov. 17 and the second leg of the 3YO Imported/ Local Challenge on Nov. 24.

What A Feeling owner Allan Keith Castro (fourth from left), jockey Mark A. Alvarez (fifth from left) and trainer Wally Manalo (third from left) hoist their trophies after What A Feeling’s rousing win at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite. They are joined by Philracom executive director Andrew Rovie Buencamino (right), Manila Jockey Club manager Jose Magboo (left), his deputy J-fel Cuevas and Lucky Lea Forbes.